Hawaiian garlic shrimp is a iconic local dish, not technically traditional Hawaiian food, featuring…read moreshell-on shrimp tossed in a pungent garlic-butter sauce, heavily popularized by North Shore, Oahu food trucks since the mid-1970s. With the recent flood happening at the end of March, and our trip being in early April, going to North Shore wasn't advised. While we have some great Hawaiian garlic shrimp spots in Arizona, we had to at least try to get some garlic shrimp while on Oahu. We gave this place a try just because we were already in the building. It wasn't a choice we made prior because honestly, I would have suggested trying a more well-known spot like two miles away, haha! We shared a $14 Shrimp with Original Garlic sauce on it and made it a combo with rice, a scoop of potato mac salad, and regular salad, $14 + $6. Sam's Kitchen was okay. I would have loved to have the shell-on but this place does not offer shell-on shrimp. Still, they make a decent garlic shrimp.

Was average nothing really stood out but still fine…read more I think I ordered the wrong type of garlic shrimp so maybe my fault. I was expecting it to be more fried and flavorful. Still decent but definitely very pricey for the size.

Tried Oh's Kitchen at the Waikiki Makers Market…read more Decent line but moved fast. BBQ skewers had a nice glaze and flavor--very similar to Filipino-style BBQ, which gave me a little taste of home. Ours weren't that hot since they had been sitting out for a bit, but still tasty. They have two sauces: Hawaiian BBQ and sweet & sour, both solid depending on your mood. The squid was just okay. They also had crispy spring rolls and fresh malasadas--nice options if you want something savory and sweet while walking around. Lowkey wish they had rice (that's just the Asian in me haha), but overall a good, quick bite while exploring the market.

So ono! We saw them at Ka Makani Ali'i during an event and it smelled so good we had to try! My…read more'Ohana tried one of each skewer-lobster ball, teriyaki chicken, garlic pork, and grilled squid. So good!!! Excellent service and we'll have to try their main location sometime!

From mochi to meatballs, takoyaki and dim sum; balls are ALWAYS a good idea. If it's anything I've…read morelearned in my entire existence of being, it's that round foods are good! And Onomono's balls are NO exception to that rule. Think popular local dishes reinvented for an age where tapas and portable foods are the new 'it girl' in food land. Hubby and I spotted their tent at the Annual Ukulele Picnic. My initial reaction like many others as well, "what's an onomono ball?" That day it was a mixture of brown rice, furikake, spam, onion, garlic, and mushroom - lightly fried to 'melt in your mouth perfection' and served on a colorful bed of crunchy red/green cabbage. The accompanying sauces (cilantro lime cream and yuzu mayo) were just the kicks the balls needed to make my taste buds go wow. They change the flavors up and are continuously experimenting with different combinations. Their onogiri is also an added bonus, with 6 different flavors. Great for taking on the go or devouring on the spot. Follow their IG @onomono.hi to see what local event they'll be at next!

The sauce is the secret to the yumminess of their balls; they have an intense, rich flavor. I'm not…read moreinto fried pupus normally, but these were pretty good.

Literally one of the best pizzas I have had on the island-I've eaten pizza all over Italy-and many…read morestates. I love pizza! If you have hesitated getting one don't! Their service is amazing and so friendly. Even have nice ambiance for a food truck with the music and smiles. They come to Saturday market in Waianae mall and can sell out. The dough is perfect and their flavors are so ono-I keep begging them to open over here but please support these two west side boys cause they out here killing it!

Best place to eat in Waikiki! The tajin shrimp is full of flavor and absolutely delicious! Service…read moreis incredible, especially Rory who is attentive and so friendly! Keeps us coming back during our stay. Definitely recommend!!!

Standard crinkle cut fries and Thai teas were affordable at $4.75 each…read more Beware of the outdoor general seating area that's for all the food trucks. The tables have baby roaches roaming around the crevices of the picnic tables. *Edit: Owner kindly reached out saying they treat the area since it is an issue but understandable given the nature of Hawai'i being humid. He said they eventually plan to change out the tables to avoid this issue.

Discovered this mom and pop shop through instagram. It's a small liquor store off Ward ave…read more However, they serve shrimp plates in their shop. They have just two choices of shrimp, garlic and spicy. Spicy does come in 4 different spice levels. And the plates include rice along with 4 different banchans. I opted for the spicy, at a level one which is half a scoop. It was full of flavor and it had just the right amount of spice. One thing I did have a problem with was the chunks of chili or panko. It was a bit too much but she still go. Mopped the plate up and was satisfied!

I wasn't expecting to find a good shrimp spot inside a liquor store, but I was pleasantly…read moresurprised. After leaving a doctor's appointment, I had a craving for shrimp and Google Maps led me here and they did not disappoint. This is definitely one of my favorite shrimp plate places. Aloha Shrimp on the North Shore is still my #1 pick, but this spot is easily in my top 5. The service was good, and my food came out in about six minutes. There isn't much ambiance since it's located inside a liquor store with no seating, so it's definitely more of a takeout place.

Food: I got the Aloha Smash Burger and it was very…read moredelicious. super flavorful, tender, and juicy. The patty was cooked well and everything came together nicely. My only real knock is the portion size; for how good it is, I wished it was just a bit bigger. Service: Quick and convenient spot. Ordering was easy and the food came out fast, which is perfect if you're looking for something simple and satisfying without a long wait. Ambiance: Very laid-back and casual. Outdoor seating only, food-truck vibes, nothing fancy but it works for a chill, grab-and-eat kind of meal.

Awesome little food stand with one of the best smash burgers I've ever had! I added an egg onto my…read moreAloha Burger & it was delicious. The fries are crispy with a yummy seasoning. The wait can feel a little long, which is to be expected by how small/busy it is, but it's definitely worth the wait.

The porridge was piping hot and the pork was very finely shredded, which I prefer over tough/chewy…read moreand sometimes fatty slices of meat, as is common at most places. The rice was smooth and thick. I wish there were more century egg bits. The broth flavor could have been a bit stronger, so I asked for shoyu. One order is good for two people. I also ordered shrimp dumplings. They were plump pieces of shrimp and a good size. The skin wasn't thick either. They weren't hot like the porridge was but it was fine coz then I could eat them right away. The hubs got some pork mochi. They were quite generously filled as well. The mochi was crispy and chewy. Everything was decently priced. It's a little stall in the Maunakea Marketplace food court, so mostly self-service over the counter. The uncle was kind and pleasant. Auntie was busy cooking/prepping in the back. We were there around lunchtime on a Sunday so they were probably getting ready to pack up as well. I'd try the fried donut and other dim sum items next time!

Went to Mei Mei Chinese BBQ for a quick pick up & a couple stalls away heading…read more mauka ( mountain side) saw these good looking round sesame seed doughnuts in their display area. Jin Dui in Chinese ! Had to try some . They comes in three's .Got 2 coconut& one red bean filled. $ 5.00 for 3 They were soft once you bite into them& the fillings were the highlight.They are a dim sum shop so you can get all your goodies there. In the Maunakea Food court. Lot of stalls to pickup all kinds of different cultural foods! Service was fast & you can dine in the court or take out! Cash only!